Adapter



Dec. 16, 1947. v H. c. CLATFELTER 2,432,860

` ADAPTER Filed Feb. l, 1945 Patented Dec. 16, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT ori-ICE ADAPTER Homer C. Clatfelter, Novi Township, Oakland County, Mich.

Application February 1, 1945, Serial No. 575,707

2 Claims.

rIhis invention relates to improvements in adapters, and refers particularly to adapters for holding the shanks of tools such as drills, reamers and the like, and supporting them in holders or turrets.

At the present time bushings are generally employed for this purpose with the result that a great number are required, one to fit the shank of each different sized drill or reamer although there is a variation of only a few thousandths of an inch between the diameters of the Shanks of some of these smaller tools. Again difficulty is often experienced `in removing these bushings from a holder or turret.

It is an object of this invention to provide an adapter which is sufficiently resilient to efficiently support and engage a number of different sized tools the Shanks of which are all within about iifteen-thousandths of an inch of one another. In that manner it is possible to provide a relatively small number of adapters with one of which any one of a full range of drills or other similar tools may be properly mounted in a holder or turret.

Another object of the invention is to provide such an adapter around which an annular groove is provided toward the front thereof. This groove not only adds to the resilience of the adapter but is also so positioned that it occurs just in front of the holder or turret so that a tool may be readily inserted therein to pry the adapter out of the holder.

A further object `of the invention is to provide such an adapter which is both simple and easy to manufacture and efficient in operation.

Having thus briefly and broadly stated some of the objects and advantages of the invention, I will now describe a preferred embodiment thereof with the aid of the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 illustrates a side view of one form of a conventional holder, partly in section, showing my adapter mounted therein.

Figure 2 is a front view of Figure 1.

Figures 3 and 4 are somewhat larger side views of the adapter, and

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Referring to the drawing, l designates one conventional form of tool holder provided with a tubular head 2 having a concentric tubular shank 3 integral therewith. The bore of the head 2 is somewhat greater than that of the shank 3, and formed radially through the head is a tapped hole 4 to receive a set screw 5.

My adapter consists of an annular body 6, and

Z the opening 1 therethrough receives the Vshank 8 of a drill or other tool to be supported thereby. The diameter of the body 6 is substantially the same as that of the head 2 into which it is inserted, and in the present instance the rear face of the body rests against the shoulder formed at the base of the head bore which, as previously stated, is somewhat greater than that of the shank 3. Extending completely across the body 6 for the greater part of its length are two diametral slots 9 and l0 which are preferably disposed at right angles to one another; and formed around the outer periphery of the body a short distance behind its front face is an annular groove Il. One of the slots 9 extends from the front face of the body and terminates a short distance in front of the rear face thereof, and the other slot l0 extends forwardly from the rear extremity of the body and terminates substantially flush with the front margin of the annular groove ll. In connection with the said groove it will be noted that it is so spaced from the rear extremity of the `adapter that it is positioned just outside the holder I. Thus it is so positioned that a narrow instrument may be readily inserted in the said groove to pry the adapter from the holder. Formed also on the outer periphery of the body 6 is a iiat face l2 between the groove Il and the rear extremity. This at face forms a bearing surface for the set screw 5. When the latter is tightened the body is suciently compressed to firmly engage the shank 8 of the tool; and when the set screw has been loosened the adapter may be easily removed in the manner above indicated.

As the slots 9 and IU are angularly arranged with respect to each other and respectively terminate short of the rear and forward ends of the adapter body, when pressure from the set screw 5 is applied to the body at a point between the slots 9 and I0 and substantially in the center of the body, it will be understood that the forward and rearward ends of the body will exert opposing torsional gripping action upon the shank 8 of the tool positioned therein. In other words the forward end of the adapter body will be deformed radially inwardly most at those portions of the body adjacent the inner ends of the slot 9 which are closest to the line along which the pressure is applied. Since the slot l0 at the rear end of the body is angularly offset with respect to the slot 9 and on the opposite side of the line along which such pressure is applied, the deforming action will be greatest along a line correspondingly offset. By virtue of this arrangement, the adapter body is caused to be twisted in opposing directions at the opposite ends which twisting action will be transmitted to the tool shank 8 positioned within the adapter so that the shank is securely clamped or locked against rotation relative to the adapter.

While the adapter has been described and shown in its association with one form of tool holder, it is of course understood that it may as readily be inserted in, and employed in connection with, any other type of holder or turret intended to receive and suppo-rt the Shanks of drills, reamer and other similar tools.

It is further understood that alterations and modifications may be made to my adapter provided the said alterations and modifications fall Within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In combination with a tool holder having a' tubular body, an adapter mounted in and projecting forwardly from said tubular body, said adapter having a resilient tubular body for receiving a tool shank therein, said adapter body having a pair of diametral slots extending longitudinally of said body from opposite ends thereof, said slots terminating short of the ends of Said body and being angularly disposed with respect to each other, a substantially flat face on said adapter body intermediate said slots and intermediate the ends thereof, and means in said tool holder for exerting pressure on said Ilat face whereby the ends of said adapter are caused to exert opposite torsional gripping actions upon the tool shank therein.

2. In combination with a tool holder having a tubular body, an adapter mounted in and projecting forwardly from said tubular body, said adapter having a resilient tubular body for receiving a tool shank therein, said adapter body having a pair of diametral slots extending longitudinally of said body from opposite ends thereof, said slots terminating short of the ends of said body and being angularly disposed with respect to each other, a substantially flat face on said adapter body intermediate said .slots and intermediate the ends thereof, and screw means in said tool holder for exerting substantially vertical pressure on said at face substantially only at a point circumferentially between said slots andintermediate the ends of said adapter whereby the ends of said adapter are caused to exert opposite torsional gripping actions upon the tool shank therein.

HOMER C. CLATFEL'IER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 318,986 Hicks June 2, 1885 442,230 Libby Dec. 9, 1890 965,735 Palmer July 26, 1910 2,292,693 Hui Aug, 11, 1942 OTHER REFERENCES American Machinist, vol, 59, No, 26, Dec. 27, 1923, page 960. (Copy 279-46, Division 52.) 

